(COLOMBO) – Two Sri Lankan men, one a tourist guide were arrested for alleged sexual assault and theft of an American woman currently on a visit to the country, police said on Saturday.
The suspects had allegedly stolen jewelry worth US$ 6,000 after they had laced her alcohol with a tranquilizer before leaving her stark naked inside a hotel room in the country’s hill capital of Kandy, police said.
Initial investigations suspect that the victim may have consented to sex with the suspects after she told police that the group had consumed alcohol together on that particular evening.
The victim also complained that a gold bracelet worth US$ 2,400, a necklace worth US$ 3,600 and a pair of diamond-studded earrings were stolen.
Sexual attacks on foreigners are rare in this tropical Indian Ocean island although there have been a few cases reported earlier.
Western embassies have repeatedly warned their citizens to contact recognized tour operators when travelling alone or in pairs in the country.
